Savin, Demchenko, Galadey, the coach of the tour and the full moon in the Ukrainian championship: the entire team of the week of the First League elimination group

Sport Arena names the symbolic team of the opening round of the second stage of the First League of the 2024/25 season and the main figures and personalities

Game program of the 1st round of the Elimination group ( report with video here )

Goalkeeper – Vitaliy Zhupansky ( Phoenix-Mariupol )

It was not a tour of outstanding goalkeeper performances, but, in our opinion, it was not easy for all goalkeepers without exception – the fate of each match could be decided by one mistake, one shot, therefore, no one had the right to make a mistake. Let's note the work of Zhupansky, because his team had a difficult away game, and, most importantly, Phoenix-Mariupol is a unique team. A real club team, where the players were assembled closer to the start of the competition and are now learning to play together. At this time, the visitors were especially vulnerable, and Prykarpattia had some moments. Vitaliy responded to Buchakchiysky's attempts to beat from afar and Foma's overhead kick, which helped Feshchuk's team to start quite successfully in the First League.

Right defender – Vladislav Sidorenko ( Phoenix-Mariupol )

The recent champion of the First League as part of Ingulets, by the will of fate, found himself in the newly assembled team of Phoenix (Podmonastyr) and FSK Mariupol. Vladislav, as one of the most experienced in defense, actively worked against the active Romanyuk-Titov duo, and also tried to push back Buchakchiyskiy, who actively moved closer to the flank under his right foot. And Vladislav could have become the author of the best goal of the season, when he tried to throw it behind Kucheruk's collar and only narrowly missed.

Central defender – Sergey Shvets ( Prykarpattya )

Despite the fact that Phoenix-Illichivets was hastily assembled and has not yet played, it has many technical and fast players, as well as the battering ram forward Buryak – a difficult opponent. Therefore, it is very important that Shvets and Frantsuz played simply and reliably, eliminating most of the sharpness near their goal. Sergey was less involved in the goal, this was not enough, but in his immediate area of responsibility he worked well.

Central defender – Bogdan Chuev ( FC Minaj )

The trip to Demidov was a certain test for the renewed FC Minai, and the home team, despite very serious problems with the team's staff and a large number of inexperienced players, created problems for the recent participants of the UPL. If for Tokar and Gavrilyuk the match with Dinaz was extremely difficult and not without mistakes, then Chuyev played this match much more calmly and reliably and contributed to Kalinichenko's debut victory in the Transcarpathian club.

Left back – Milan Mikhalchuk ( Niva )

Among Niva's newcomers is former Rukh defender Mikhalchuk. He played a rather difficult match in Horishni Plavni on a sticky pitch in rainy weather, but remained fresh until the endgame. It was Milan's next raid that ultimately helped the Ternopilians regain their lead and win. Mikhalchuk crossed, Napuda closed the shot – as a result, Virta's team won the fourth match in a row in the Ukrainian championship.

Central midfielder – Vladislav Buchakchiyskiy (Prykarpattya)

Among all the Carpathians, Buchakchiyskiy, a center half by position, was the most focused on the goal of Phoenix-Mariupol. Vladislav managed to do the necessary work in the center of the field, and perform set pieces, and, at least three times, shoot at the target from different positions and distances. Also, after his corners and free kicks, the game became very tense near the visitors' goal several times.

Right midfielder – Daniil Kirichenko (Dinaz)

Let's put the case of the universal attacker Dinaz, because Kirichenko was the most active in his team and did a lot so that Dinaz had real hopes for points in the match with the Minay team. Daniil could have equalized the score already in the debut, but after a free kick from Prikhodko he headed the ball into the crossbar. It was Kirichenko who earned and converted a penalty, and twice after the break he almost got the ball near the goal. The form of the player, who missed a lot due to injury last year, is pleasing now.

Attacking midfielder – Andrey Savitsky (Kremneva)

What can I say, Savitsky had a brilliant match! Even without regard to the main flashback of the tour, when his shorts were tested for strength by a teammate, celebrating a goal against Niva, Andrey was the most noticeable on the field. In the first half, when the teams still had the strength to knead the field in the rain, he was the most specific – Savitsky shot at the Ternopil goal three times from different positions. He also took on set pieces – it was after his corner that Sidorenko equalized the score and the most epic celebration in the history of the First League took place.

Left midfielder – Anton Savin (Podolye)

Savin changed the tenth club in the First League. And his debut in the Podillia team was simply incredible. At the Slavutich Arena, the “arena of good mood”, he picked up a draw ball in the debut, moved forward and caught the Metalurh goalkeeper by surprise with a weak shot. And he did not stop after the goal, in fact, it was his free kick that Kukharuk headed in, so Anton added an assist to the goal. He was active and greatly strengthened the flank potential of the Khmelnytskyi team.

On the falling – Anton Demchenko (FC Minaj)

Demchenko has been named among Shakhtar's significant talents for many years, but he could not make the expected transition from youth to adult football for a long time. It was nice to see his debut now in the First League. Anton demonstrated excellent qualities of a striker – speed, quick orientation in difficult game situations, improvisation. The first goal of the match was not foreshadowed until Demchenko turned up the speed and stretched the ball from the depths of the right flank, laying out a convenient assist to Rask. And later it was Anton who shot at the goal, and after the goalkeeper's save, E. Ryazantsev brought victory to the Transcarpathians.

For the falling one – Dmitry Galadey (Niva)

During the winter break, Nyva suffered numerous personnel losses, and perhaps the main one among them was the departure of the main forward Riznyk to the UPL. For several years, Andriy was associated with Nyva, and Nyva – with this proactive, dynamic, inventive striker. But, as it turned out, Galadey is ready to come to the fore and change the very style of attacks of the Ternopil team. In Horishni Plavni, he acted well in front of the goal, gave the address to the passes and looked for his opportunities. It was he who closed the pass from Misik, opening the scoring. Before that, he could score from an acute angle. He worked hard, winning the fight in the opponent's half.

Team of the 1st round of the second stage of the First League. Illustration pfl.ua Moment of the round

April 1st makes you want to be naughty – at 4:45 the most famous episode of this round, which has already made it into the selections of the world's largest fan resources. Kremne celebrated his goal – and he celebrated! The author of the goal, Sidorenko, “thanked” his teammate Savitsky for a corner kick😊 By the way, this was Kremne's 250th goal in the First League / DiviSport

Tour Facts

Daniil Kirichenko (Dinaz) became the author of the 900th (!) goal from a penalty in the history of the First League.

• Valentin Napuda (Niva) scored the 300th goal of the current championship.
• Niva won the fourth match in a row
• The debut goals in the First League were scored by Mikhail Rasko (Minaj, in the 1st game), Daniil Sidorenko (Kremneva, in the 10th), Valentin Napuda (Niva, in the 13th)
• Anton Savin (Podolye) will make his debut in his 10th (!) First League club
• Debuting in the First League were Ivan Mykhailenko, Nazar Kaida, Oleksiy Teplyuk, Ilya Rudnitsky (all from Dinaz), Bohdan Tokar, Nazar Gavrilyuk, Mykhailo Rasko, Anton Demchenko (all from FC Minaj), Oleksandr-Nasimi Serafimov (Podolye), Volodymyr Matusevich, Dmytro Rozhko, Dmytro Rozhko (Feniks-Mariupol), Maksym Bondar, Dmytro Pokas, Bohdan Melnyk (all from Kremneva), Milan Mykhalchuk, Vitaly Mykhailov (Nyva)
• Vasyl Genik (Prykarpattia) played his 100th match in the First League
• 1st red card for Vadim Shavrin in the First League (Podolye, in the 169th game)
• Prykarpattya played its 620th match in the First League: +204=134-281 goals 689-851

More interesting things can be found in the digital selection of the PFL, whose information partner is Sport Arena.

Tour coach – Sergey Kovalets (Podolye)

We said in winter – the selection and training camp itself will show which of those fighting for relegation really do not want to leave the First League. Kovalets carried out systematic work during the winter break, having completed Podillya with a number of more experienced footballers. He was not afraid to part with some of the old-timers of the starting lineup, although there were, it seems, some unwanted losses. Be that as it may, in Zaporizhia the Khmelnytskyi team already created the necessary reserve in the first half and after the removal immediately after the break did not lose the structure of the game and brought the match to victory. Synchronous failures of competitors allowed the Podillians to leave the last place in the first round. You are on the right path, gentlemen!

• The conclusion of the All-Ukrainian Association of Football Coaches is here.

The best coach of the 1st round of the second stage of the First League. Illustration by pfl.ua Joker of the round – Evgeniy Ryazantsev (FC Minaj)

The former Metalist leader appeared on the field in the 68th minute (and the coaching staff released an attacking midfielder instead of one of the centerbacks, changing the scheme to a more attacking one). And already in the 75th he scored the winning goal, playing while falling on the rebound after a shot by Demchenko and a save by goalkeeper Sledzevsky. Ryazantsev is generally having a weaker season than the previous one, but for now we see that FC Minaj is returning Evgeniy to the First League agenda, and he is getting into his best form.

• SportArena.com statistics: 12 league matches, 2 goals, 1 assist.

Best Young Player of the Tour – Valentin Napuda (Niva)

Valentin's debut goal in the First League brought the first club team of Ternopil an away victory. The former striker of the youth teams of the Hungarian Kisvarda and the Danish Sönderjüské, as well as Skala 1911, showed himself excellently this season in Sambir-Nyva-2. For the reserve team of Ternopil in the Second League and the Open Cup of the PFL, he scored six goals this season. And now – the continuation of the development of the 20-year-old player, the first significant success in the main Nyva.

• SportArena.com statistics: 13 league matches, 1 goal.

Hero of the tour – Anton Savin (Podolye) Hero of the 1st round of the second stage of the First League. Illustration by pfl.ua

Read later on our website an interview with the player who scored a goal and an assist in his debut match for his new team.

• SportArena.com statistics: 15 league matches, 1 goal, 5 assists.

* * *

Tour figures

• Group standings Elimination after 1st round

• Bombers

• Assistants

• Goal+pass

* * *

All calculations by Artur Valerko, SportArena.com

P.S. When preparing the material, photographs from the official websites of the clubs were used. The material was written by the author in Ukrainian.